Life-boat-launching apparatus.



R. R. COOKING.

LIFE BOAT LAUNOHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1; 19131 Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

R. R. COOKING.

IJFE BOAT LAUNCHING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED DEOQl, 1913.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a s rlllFliL THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINCION. D. c

'R. R. GOCKING.

LIFE BOAT LAUNGHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1, 1913.

1,1 30,569. -Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 l 341W 12E. 6 00 7215;

LIFE-IBQAT -LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

Specification of letters Batent.

RALPH commie. LA sears. ILLINQI-,

aten ed Man a Application fited December 1, 1913 Serial 110. 803,975.

' i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH R. COOKING, a citizen of the United States,residing at La Salle, in the county of La Salle, State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Boat-LaunchingApparatus; and I do hereby declare the fol-' lowing to be a full, clear,andIeXact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus forlaunching boats and particularly to an apparatus for launching lifeboats from a ship. at sea.

The object of the present invention resides in the provision ofmeanswhereby a plu rality of life boats may be safely launched from avessel in comparatively rapid sucsession and reach the water at asuificient distance from the vessel to avoid the danger of beingbattered by the wash about the hull of the vessel. i

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of anapparatus of the class described which when in inoperative position doesnot mar the general appearance of the vessel and which may be readilyactu Zted to operative position for launching the oats.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision ofbuoyant means for supporting that end of the life boat launchingapparatus adjacent the water, said means being detachable so that it mayserve itself as a. life-boat for the relief of those persons necessarilyretained on board to launch the life boats from the deck, so that thesafety of all persons on board the ship is insured.

TVith these and other objects in View, the invention resides in thenovel combination, formation and arrangement of parts to be more fullyhereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings andparticularly pointed out in the claims here'- to appended.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein similar charactersof reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several viewsand in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a ship, showing the life-boat launchingapparatus associated therewith, with the trackways thereof ininoperative position, Fig.2 is a transverse sectional view through aportion of the ship, showing one of the trackways'in extended position,Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 isaside elevational view of one of the trackways in a partially raisedposition, Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through one of the turntableson the line 55 ofFig. 1, Fig.

6 is a side elevational View of the pivoted end portion of one of thetrackways, Fig. 7 is a sectional View on the line 77 of Fig. 6 andshowing the means for retracting the sections of the trackway, Fig. 8 isa longitudinal sectional view of a portion ofthe trackway, Fig. 9. is aView of the outer end of one of the trackways, Fig. 10' is an enlargedside elevationalview of the means for raising the trackway, Fig. 11 isadetail sectional view of the means for releasing the tiltingplatform,"and Fig. 12 isa detailview showing the pivotal connectionbetween the end of the trackway and its buoyant supt j I 1 Referring nowmore particularly to the accompanying drawings, A designates generallythehull of a vessel, which includes the main deck '5, the saloon deck 6disposed thereover and the boat. deck 7 disposed over the saloondeck.Carried'by thezsides of the front and rear portionsiof the boat deck areturntables B and disposed about each of the turntables and in alinementwith the center. of the turntable are a plurality of grooves 8 in theboat deck, adapted to receive the keel ribs of the life-boats 9. Thesegrooves are adapted to selectively aline with a groove 10 in the.turntable whereby the boats may be readily run onto the turntable 'l'and from thence,"through the medium of a pivoted platform 11 carried inthe turntable launched onto a trackwaydesignated generally at C, onwhich it slides downwardly to the water. i i

It is observed that there are thus provided four turntables with acorresponding number of trackways G disposed at the sides of the vesseloutwardly of the turntable. The

series of grooves 8 form each a magazine for storing theboats. Toprovideadditional means for storing boats,- grooves 12 extendlongitudinally along the sides of the boat deck and communicate at eachend with an adjacent groove 8. i i

' Each of the trackways 0 comprises a plurality of telescopingsections Apair of spaced standa rd members 14 extend upwardly from the main deck 5outwardly of each turntable B and carried by thesestand.-

ards at a point below the saloon deck is a transverse shaft 15 on whichis pivotally mounted a pair of spaced ears 16 carried by the largestsection 13 of the trackway adjacent the inner end thereof.

For extending and retracting the sections 13, a drum 17 is looselymounted on the shaft 15 between the ears 16 and journaled in each of theupright members 14 is a shaft 18 carrying at its inner end a gear pinion19 meshing with a gear wheel 20 fixed to one side of the drum, the outerends of the shaft 18 being provided with crank handles 21. Cables 22 arewound on the drums and extend to the inner end of the smallest section13. Thus rotation of the shaft 18 will retract the sections 13 of thetrackway, the sections being extended by gravity when the retractedsections are disposed at the proper angle.

For raising the trackway when its sections are in retracted position, sothat the trackway lies wholly between the standards 14, a sheave 23 iscarried at the upper end of each standard and cables 24 are secured tothe outer end portions of the larger section 13 and trained around thesheaves 23, pulleys 24 at the lower portions of the standards, pulleys25 depending from the saloon deck and are wound about a drum 26 fixed toa shaft 27 j ournaled in uprights 28 on the main deck. Carried by theshaft is aratchet wheel 29 and a gravity pawl 30 is carried by one ofthe uprights to engage the teeth and prevent retrograde movement of thedrum. Thus it is observed that the trackways may be readily and safelylowered and extended to operative position and may, if desired, beretracted and raised.

Each of the sections 13 of each trackway C comprises corner angle strips31 and a substantially channel shape track 32 having at its sideslaterally directed flanges 33. Brace bars 34 are secured to theseflanges and to the adjacent sides of the upper angle bars 31, brace rods35 preferably arcuate in elevation are secured to the adjacent sides ofthe lower angle bars and diagonal side brace rods 36 are secured to theremaining sides of the angle bars. Each of the sections is preferablytapered longitudinally so that when it is in extended position it formswith the other sections a substantially rigid structure.

For supporting the free end of the outermost section 13 when inoperative position, a float member is provided which comprises a boat37. Depending from the end of the outer section 13 are ears 38 disposedin spaced pairs and upstanding from the boat 37 are ears 39, bolts 40being passed through said ears to form a hinged connection. The side ofthe boat opposite that which carries the ears 39 is provided with atransverse rib 41 and pivoted at 42 to the outer portion of the outersection 13 are diagonal bars 43 having secured at their lower ends afoot portion 44. When the sections are in a re tracted position, themembers 43 are swung by engagement with the end of the adjacent section13 inwardly to lie within their section 13. When the members areextended the sections 43 swing outwardly and rest on the top of the boat37 to hold it with relation to the trackway.

It is observed that the boat 37 has a covered top portion to prevent itsswamping and guide rails 45 are carried by the sides of the boat. Whendesired, the bolts 40 may be retracted from the ears 38 and 39 and theboat 37 thus detached from the track way so that it may be used as ameans of escape by those who are not enabled to use the life-boatslaunched in the usual manner. It is observed that as the trackway ispivotally connected to the vessel the small boat 37 will always hold itsfree end adjacent the top of the water. It is further observed thatconsiderable play may be given the free end of the trackway, on accountof waves but the movement of the inner end of the trackway iscomparatively limited so that the tilting platform will always dischargethe life boats properly onto said inner end of the trackway.

For receiving each turntable B, the boat deck is provided with acircular recess 46 and the peripheral portion of the under face of theturntable carries rollers 46 which ride on the bottom of said recess.The turntable is provided with a substantially rectangular cutawayportion 47 opening at one end upon the periphery of the turntable.Disposed in this cutaway portion is the pivoted platform 11 which isprovided with a pair of depending ears 48 disposed in alinement withears 49 on the under face of the turntable, a bolt 50 being passedthrough the ears to pivotally sup port the platform. It is observed thatthe pivotal connection of the platform is adj acent its inner end sothat the platform is normally adapted to swing in a counterclockwisedirection. To prevent swinging of the platform past the angle at whichit is best adapted to discharge onto the trackway, an arm 51 dependsfrom the inner portion of the platform and has a lateral extension 52adapted to engage the turntable. The

boat deck is cutaway adjacent each trackway C. Thus the platform 11 canonly tilt when it is in alinement with the adjacent trackway, as itsouter edge is otherwise in engagement with the bottom of the recess 46.

To prevent tilting movement of the platform even when it is in alinementwith the trackway, adj acent portions of the turntable and platform 11are provided with upstanding ears 53 having bores 54 adapted to alinewhen the platform is in a horizontal posiof substantially 45 degrees,the sections are then extended by means of the cables 22, said sectionsbeing held against outward disengagement by stops 57 A boat is then runonto a turntable B, the turntable is then swung until its pivotedplatform 11 is in alinementwith the adjacent trackway, and the platformis allowed to swing upon with drawal of the shaft v56, as described. Itis noted that the platform 11 swings to its proper discharging positionbefore the lifeboat thereon has gained any substantial momentum. Thusthe boat slides easily onto the trackway. The keel rib of the boat seatsin the channel track 32 and is thereby held on said track.

It will be understood that various minor changes and modifications ofstructure and operation may be made within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing in any manner fromthe spirit of the invention,

What is claimed is:

l. A life boat launching apparatus comprising the combination with avessel, of a trackway at the side thereof, a turntable mounted adjacentthe trackway and a pivoted platform carried by the turntable and adaptedto swing to discharge a boat onto the trackway.

2. A life boat launching apparatus comprising the combination with avessel, of a trackway at the side thereof, of a. turntable adjacent thetraclrway, a pivoted platform carried by the turntable, said'platformand turntable being provided with jalining grooves and boat guidinggrooves in the vessel adapted to selectively aline with the firstnameclgrooves; r J

8. A life boat launching apparatus'comprising the combination with avessel of a trackway pivoted to the side thereof and comprising aplurality of telescoping sec-' tions, means for telescoping saidsections,"

a shaft carried the standard, a trackway comprising a plurality oftelescoping sections, thelarger section being pivoted to the shaft,means for swinging the trackway vertically and means for, telescopingthe sections including a drum on the shaftand a cable wound on the drumand secured to the smallest section. r

5. A life boat launching apparatus comprising the combinationwithfavessel of a trackway pivoted to the, side thereof and comprising aplurality-of telescoping sections, means for telescoping said sections,

means for swinging the trackway vertically, j

a fioat pivoted to the outer end of the smallest section and a brace rodpivoted to the intermediate portion of the smallest section and adaptedto engage the float to prevent,

pivotal movement thereof a 6. A life boat launching apparatus comprising the combination with a vessel of a trackway pivoted to the sidethereof, a turntable carried by the deck of the vessel adjacent thetrackway, said turntable being pro--; added with a cutaway portion, atilting plattrackway carried thereby and having its re- V ceiving-en'ddisposed below the boat deck, a

turntable carried by the boat deck adjacent the trackway, the turntablebeing provided with a cutaway portion opening upon the peripherythereof, a tilting platform pivoted in the cutaway portion and extendingadjacent the periphery of the turntable and the boat deck adjacent thereceiving end of the trackway being cutaway to permit the platform toswing upon coming into aline ment with the trackway.

8. In a life boat launchi turntable provided with a cutaway portion,

ng apparatus, a

a tilting platform pivoted in the cutaway portion, ears on adjacentportions of the platform and turntable provided with bores in alinementwhen the platform is horizontally disposed a lever pivoted to the turn;table and a shaft loosely pivoted to the lever and adapted to engage thesaid bores.

'In testimony'whereof, I afiix my sigriature, in the presence of twowitnesses RALPH COCKING. l Vitnesses: A

GE RGE H. ll/IATTHEWS, JO N JENKIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

- 1 Washington, D. 0.

